His party held office on sufferance...
The civilian authorities are only there on sufferance of the military.
English dictionary. 2008.
Sufferance — Suf fer*ance, n. [OE. suffrance, OF. sufrance, soufrance, F. souffrance, L. sufferentia, from sufferens, entis, p. pr. of sufferre. See {Suffer}.] 1. The state of suffering; the bearing of pain; endurance. [1913 Webster] He must not only die the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
sufferance — suf·fer·ance / sə frəns, fə rəns/ n: consent or sanction implied by a lack of interference or failure to enforce a prohibition see also estate at sufferance at estate 1 tenancy at sufferance at tenancy … Law dictionary
sufferance — [suf′ər əns, suf′rəns] n. [ME < Anglo Fr souffrance < OFr < LL(Ec) sufferentia < L sufferens, prp.: see SUFFER] 1. the power or capacity to endure or tolerate pain, distress, etc. 2. consent, permission, or sanction implied by failure … English World dictionary
sufferance — c.1300, enduring of hardship, affliction, etc., also allowance of wrongdoing, from O.Fr. suffrance, from L.L. sufferentia, from sufferre (see SUFFER (Cf. suffer)) … Etymology dictionary
sufferance — *permission, leave Analogous words: toleration, endurance (see corresponding verbs at BEAR): acquiescence, resignation, compliance (see under COMPLIANT) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
sufferance — ► NOUN ▪ absence of objection rather than genuine approval; toleration … English terms dictionary
sufferance — noun /sʌ.fɚ.əns/ a) Endurance, especially patiently, of pain or adversity. I indulged in this meditation for a moment, and then again addressed the mourner, who stood leaning against the bed with that expression of resigned despair, of complete… … Wiktionary
sufferance — suf|fer|ance [ˈsʌfərəns] n on sufferance formal if you live or work somewhere on sufferance, you are allowed to do it by someone who would prefer you did not do it ▪ He was never going to let her forget she was only here on sufferance … Dictionary of contemporary English
sufferance — noun on sufferance formal if you live or work somewhere on sufferance, you are allowed to do it by someone who would rather you did not do it: Martha made it clear I was only staying with them on sufferance … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
sufferance — Endurance of pain or distress, physical or mental. Toleration; acquiescence. See bill of sufferance; estate by sufferance; tenancy at sufferance … Ballentine's law dictionary
